A stochastic model for localized disturbances and its applications

A stochastic model for local disturbances, particularly for a temporal harmonic with random modulations in amplitude and/or phase, is proposed in this paper. Results for the second moment responses of a linear single-degree-of-freedom system to this type of stochastic loading demonstrate a significant change in response characteristics due to a small uncertainty. A local phenomenon may last much longer and resonance may be smeared to a broad range. Integrated with wavelet transform, the proposed approach may be used to model a random process with non-stationary frequency content. Especially, it can be effectively used for Monte Carlo simulation to generate large size of samples that have similar characteristics in time and frequency domains as a pre-selected mother sample has. The technique has a great potential for the case where uncertainty study is warranted but the available samples are limited.     

基于子波变换的涡街流量传感器信号分析

长期以来 ,如何提取潜在噪声下的涡街流量信号一直是个问题。流体流速脉动 ,局部阻力 ,随机振动———所有这些因素都给解决这一问题带来难度。文章应用子波变换消噪理论 ,从软件滤波的角度分析了强噪声干扰下的涡街流量信号 ,并提出了单支重构计数方法。分析结果表明 ,这种方法对低流速流量计量效果很好 ,能够有效地扩展量程下限     

碳素材料超声检测的信号处理方法

针对碳素材料超声无损检测存在信噪比较低的问题,从自相关性出发分析了典型超声检测信号的组成成分,提出了在自相关分析的基础上的小波去噪思想,探讨了自相关分析和小波分析相结合的信号处理方法。利用此方法进行实际超声信号分析效果良好。     

A comparative study of numerical solutions to non-linear discrete crack modelling of concrete beams involving sharp snap-back

Numerical problems are often encountered in modelling crack propagation in concrete beams using non-linear finite element (FE) analysis, especially when sharp snap-back behaviour in load-displacement relations occurs. This paper firstly identifies 16 arc-length control based numerical strategies based on extensive literature review. They are then used to carefully model the structural behaviour of a four-point single notched shear beam using discrete crack modelling approach in which cracks are represented by interface elements with bilinear softening constitutive laws. Based on extensive FE analyses, detailed comparisons of the merits and demerits of these numerical algorithms are then made. The results indicate that the effectiveness and efficiency of different algorithms may vary considerably from one to another, with the local arc-length based procedures in conjunction with tangential stiffness strategy and reversible unloading model being the most robust.     

Sphere packing with a geometric based compression algorithm

An efficient algorithm for the random packing of spheres can significantly save the cost of the preparation of an initial configuration often required in discrete element simulations. It is not trivial to generate such random packing at a large scale, particularly when spheres of various sizes and geometric domains of different shapes are present. Motivated by the idea of compression complemented by an efficient physical process to increase packing density, shaking, a new approach, termed compression algorithm, is proposed in this work to randomly fill any arbitrary polyhedral or cylindrical domains with spheres of various sizes. The algorithm features both simplicity and high efficiency. Tests show that it takes 181 s on a 1.4-GHz PC to complete the filling of a cylindrical domain with a total number of 26,787 spheres, achieving a packing density of 52.89%.     

Onset of buoyancy-driven convection in melting from below

When a horizontal homogeneous solid is melted from below, convection can be induced in a thermally unstable melt layer. In this study the onset of buoyancy-driven convection during time-dependent melting is investigated by using similarly transformed disturbance equations. The critical Rayleigh numbers based on the melt-layer thickness are found numerically for various conditions. For small superheats, the present predictions approach the well known results of classical Rayleigh-Bénard problems, that is, critical Rayleigh numbers are located between 1,296 and 1,708, regardless of the Prandtl number. However, for high superheats the critical Rayleigh number increases with an increase in phase change rate but with decrease in Prandtl number.     

Effect of vibration condition and inter-particle frictions on the packing of uniform spheres

We present a numerical study of the packing of uniform spheres under three-dimensional vibration using the discrete element method (DEM), focusing on the effects of vibration condition (amplitude and frequency) and inter-particle frictions (sliding and rolling frictions). The results are analysed in terms of packing density, coordination number (CN), radial distribution function (RDF) and pore structure. It is shown that increasing either the vibration amplitude or frequency causes packing density to increase initially to a maximum and then decrease. Both vibration frequency and amplitude should be considered to characterize the effect of vibration process on packing structure. The sliding and rolling frictions between particles can decrease packing density since they dissipate energy, although the effect of rolling friction is less significant. In line with the change of packing density, microstructural properties such as CN, RDF and pore distribution also change: a looser packing often corresponds to smaller CN, less peaked RDF and larger but more widely distributed pores.     

Distributed Optical Fiber Sensor for Multi-point Temperature Measurement

The distributed optical fiber sensing technology is overviewed, which is based on Raman scattering light theory. Basic operation principle, structure, system characteristics and signal processing are discussed. This structure and method of the signal processing possess of certain spatial resolution, hence will ensure the practicability of system.     

Applications of the discrete element method in mechanical engineering

Compared to other fields of engineering, in mechanical engineering, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is not yet a well known method. Nevertheless, there is a variety of simulation problems where the method has obvious advantages due to its meshless nature. For problems where several free bodies can collide and break after having been largely deformed, the DEM is the method of choice. Neighborhood search and collision detection between bodies as well as the separation of large solids into smaller particles are naturally incorporated in the method. The main DEM algorithm consists of a relatively simple loop that basically contains the three substeps contact detection, force computation and integration. However, there exists a large variety of different algorithms to choose the substeps to compose the optimal method for a given problem. In this contribution, we describe the dynamics of particle systems together with appropriate numerical integration schemes and give an overview over different types of particle interactions that can be composed to adapt the method to fit to a given simulation problem. Surface triangulations are used to model complicated, non-convex bodies in contact with particle systems. The capabilities of the method are finally demonstrated by means of application examples. Commemorative Contribution.     

Enhancement of islanding-detection of distributed generation systems via wavelet transform-based approaches

In this paper, a wavelet transform-based approach is proposed to detect the occurrence of islanding events in distributed generation systems. Thanks to time–frequency localization capabilities exhibited by wavelet transform, the approach embedded with this transform technique has grasped the appearance of the islanding event in a highly effective manner. Moreover, for those regions which are in need of a better visualization, the proposed approach would serve as an efficient aid such that the mains power disconnection can be better distinguished. To validate the feasibility of this approach, the method has been validated through several scenarios. Test results supported the effectiveness of the method for the application considered.